Elasheb ob magnetic actuator eob switches and the like



I I Apl'll 30, 1929. H J 1,710,945

FLASHER OR MAGNETIC ACTUATOR FOR SWITCHES AND THE LIKE Filed May 27; 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UAz fi I BY ill...

ATTORNEY H. J. OTTO FLASHER 0R MAGNETIC ACTUATOR FOR SWITCHES AND THELIKE Filed May 27, 1927 Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nn'niw J. arm, or EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF '10 CHARLESw.

HALSEY, on EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

FLASHER OR MAGNETIC ACTUATOR FOR SWITCHES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed May 27,

My invention relates to a flasher of the type adapted to operate signs,signals,

mechanical toys and the like, and aims, among intended to functionperiodically.-

In the drawings illustrating a selected embodiment of my invention Fig.1 is an elevational view of a signal connected to be operated by myactuator;

Fig. 2 is a central, sectional View of an actuator embodying myimprovements;

Fig. 3 is a central, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2,'andalso indicating a wiring diagram; 7

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 14 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the parts indifi'erentpositions:

Referringparticularly to the drawings, I have there shown myimprovements as embodied in a flasher of the type in which an actuatorin the form of a solenoid 10carried in a suitable casing 11, is adaptedtob e enerof'the solenoid, comprises a shaft 13 journaled above thecasing and to one side of the solenoid and an operating arm 14 is fixedat one end to the shaft so that it projects over the end of the upperend of the core. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3,. I have shown balancingdisks 15 mounted on one end of the shaft and having a weight 16 on it soarranged that it normally holds the arm in. position to be given anactuating impulse. On the other end of the shaft I provide'means toactuate a circuit closing and breaking switch for energizinganddeenergizing the solenoid. Herein, I have shown a cam or flanged disc17 hav'- ing a fiat portion 18 adapted to cooperate with a pivoted armorpallet 19 in much the same manner as an escapement wheel. Herein, thisarm is shaped like a parallelogram. This arrangement is such that whenthe shaft is given an impulse by the solenoid core, the arm rides on thecircular portion or high part of the cam with the switch open (Fig.

1927. Serial No. 194,786.

4;), and when the arm is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the switch isclosed.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a-spring contact arm 20 connected to abinding post 21 suitably insulated from the casing. The lower end of thearm 19 is preferably bevelled and the free end of thespring arm 20 isbent upwardly so that the arm makes a wiping contact and, hence, isself-cleaning. The binding post 21 is connected to one end of thesolenoid by a conductor 22 (see the wiring, diagram in Fig. 3); Theupper end offthe arm 22 strikes a stop pin 23 in the form of a bindingpostv or terminal, which. is either grounded if a storage battery isused, or is connected to any source of low voltage cur.- rent through aconductor 24. 'The other end of the solenoid winding is connecteddirectly to the source of currentthrough the conductor 25. p

In order to insure that the pivoted switch arm 19 will-strike the post23 and close the circuit when the cam is turning counterclockwise asviewed in Figs. 3 and 4, I provide a pin 26, on a flange 27 of the camadjacent the low'part thereof so that the pin will strike the arm belowthe toe part and swing or knock it over against the post. Further, tokeep the arm from swinging to the left too'far to be engaged by the pin26, I have shown a pin 28 on the casing adjacent to the upper end of thearm. As soon as contact is made by the rocker arm, the electromagnet isenergized to give the shaft an impulse. The'lower part of the campermits the arm to keep the circuit closed an instant after the impulseis given to insure strong flux while the core is moving; hen it strikesthe toe of the arm and knocks it away. 7

To return the cam to a switch-closing position after the initial impulseis givento the shaft, I provide a leafspring 29 suitably se cured to thetop of the'casing and projecting upwardly at an angle to the horizontal.The upper end of this spring when struck by the actuating arm 1 1 willcause the arm to rebound. The arm and the weight 16 will be thrown backpast their uppermost or vertical positions and, then they will turn thebalancing disk by gravity to the switch-clos- 5 ing position.

To utilize the spring 29 also as a circuitclosing device or controllerfor a lamp, motor or other electrically controlled device, I have shownapair of stationary terminals 30 suitably carried by and insulated fromthe easin 11. These contacts are arranged .to be bridged by an insulatedend of the spring 29 and to close a'circuitthrough conductors 31 and 32connected to aasource'of electro-motive force whereby to flashon a lamp33, start an operating motor 34 for a sign, signal or the like or formomentarily energizing any electrical apparatus indicateddiagrammatically at 3 5 orforoperating all of them at the same time.- Toeliminate noise incident to the core 12 of the solenoid dropping in thecasing, I provide a compression spring 36 in a pocket 37 below thecasing-10.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a hand pointer 38 mounted ona stand 39 simplyfor'the purpose of illustrating one practical application of theinvention. It may be assumed that the hand pointer is either connecteddirectly to the shaft 13 of my electromagnetic actuator or that it has aseparate motor to operate it. 'Obviously the present invention is notrestricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown anddescribed. Moreover, it' is not indispensable that all the features ofthe invention be used conjointly, since they may be employedadvantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

What I claim is: I

1. A flasher of the character described comprising, in combination; an.overbalanced oscillatory member; means for imparting motion to saidmember; a stationary contact member; and resilient means serving tocontrol the movement of the member and. for

closing and opening'a circuit in which the contact member is connected.

2. A flasher of the character described com prising, in combination; ashaft having a weighted member thereon; means for giving the shaft aturning im ulse; means for arresting-the movement o the shaft andreturning it to a position where the weight will cause it to return toits starting position; and

a pair of cont-act members in a controlling circuit arranged to bebridged by the shaftarresting means.

3. A flasher of the character described comprising, in 'combination; ashaft'having a weighted member thereon; and arm on said shaft; anelectro-magnetbelow said arm and having its core arranged to give thearm and shaft aturningimpulse; means for arresting the movement of theshaft and reshaft-arresting means.

' 4. Aflasher of the character described com prising, in combination; anoverbalanced oscillatory member; a solenoid having a core constructedand arranged to give said member an impulse; a stationary contactmember; and resilient means serving to control the movement of themember and for closing and opening a circuit in which the contact memberis connected.

5. In a flasher device of the character described; a shaft; a weight foroverbalancing said shaft means for giving rotary impulses to said shaft;means for arresting the movement of said shaft and returning it toposition where the weight will .cause it to return to its startingposition to receive another impulse; and means controlled by themovement of the shaft to energize the means for giving the impulse.

.anced shaft is periodically oscillated.

7. In a device of the character described; a counterweighted shaft; anarm fixed on the shaft; a solenoid having a core arranged to give thearm an actuating impulse; means to reverse the movement of the shaft; acam carried by the shaft; a pivoted switch arm arranged to be actuatedby said cam; and'a spring contact member cooperatingwith said switcharm.

8. In a device of the character described; a counterweighted shaft anarm fixed on the shaft; a solenoid havin a core arranged to give the arman actuating impulse; a disklike cam having a fiat portion; a pivotedrocker arm havingan end ortion adapted to conform to the-periphery o thedisk; a spring contact terminal arranged to have wiping contact with thearm; and a stop in and ter- .minal arranged to be engaged y the arm 6.In a device of the character described; '80

